top of page

INSPIRE YOUR CHOIR
with fun, FREE, easy warm-ups

Help yourself to these fantastic free warm-ups. Like what you hear? Make sure you pop your email address into the box below to get notified when new warm-ups are available.

ROUNDS

Song of the Wild

This contemporary round is very easy to learn. It evokes the joy and inspiration of being out in the countryside, breathing fresh air and leaving our troubles behind us for a while.

I wanted to write a round in a minor key but I had no inspiration. So I went for a walk, which I often do when I want to get new ideas. As I walked down the path to the sea, my footsteps became the beat. I could hear the waves and the birds around me – the first line came into my head: Song of the wild, song of the wild, can you hear the song of the wild?

Sing Me a Song

This is a super-simple round that you can teach and learn very quickly. And it’s a song about singing, which is always fun.

I wanted to create a very simple round about how all singing is valuable and beneficial, however we do it.

A Round that doesn't
quite work

A funny round in 5/4 time.

I wanted to write a round in 5/4 time, but I kept tripping over the words, so I thought I’d make a feature of it.

UPLIFTING WARM-UPS

All Human

A vocal jam to celebrate that which unites us – our humanity.

This vocal jam was inspired by the seemingly constant stream of news that highlights the differences between people. Choir reject that division – we get together to sing as one.

You can teach this in whatever way you like. Don’t shy away from asking your singers to sing outside they’re usual range – it’s a great challenge.

If you’re using the backing track or the ‘All parts together’ track, the melody is repeated 8 times after a 4 bar intro. If you’re using the ‘each part introduced track’ it repeats 5 times after each part plays in turn. Or you can go a cappella and repeat is as many times as you like.

Ain't Got No Worries

A jolly, comforting warm-up song that’s easy to learn and shares a message of the bonds we create by singing together.

This little warm-up song was lockdown composition. I wanted to write something that was quick to learn and that would convey what I was feeling at the time – that even though our online choir sessions weren’t what we’d choose in normal circumstances, they were still giving us the essence of being part of a choir. And that as long as we came together to sing, even if we couldn’t actually sing together, we could leave behind our worries for a while.

It’s a happy little ditty that works really well repeated with key changes.

The Story of our Choir

This uplifting round is designed to send everyone onto the stage feeling great and raring to go! It came into being as part of a brief to create a pre-performance warm-up, although you can use it any old time.

SUPER-EASY WARM-UPS

AEIOU

A great first warm-up for any rehearsal - gentle five-note scales to A-E-I-O-U.

Strolling Bass

Simple scales to a strolling bass, running through the vowels, alternating 'yah' and 'nah'.

Fruit Cocktail

A super-fruity warm-up exercise to get your choir singing accurate triplets.

Choirs often struggle to feel the true pulse of a triplet. They tend to rush. So this warm-up is designed to get us in the triplet groove because the ‘pine’ of pineapple is a long syllable. It has a sunny, happy feel. And who doesn’t like cocktails?

The recorded version repeats three times and modules to B major and then C major. If you’re not using the recording, pitch it wherever works for your singers.

FUNNIES

I Don't Believe in Warm-ups

A fun warm-up song for those choir members who just don’t GET why we do warm-ups.

Thank You!

I wanted to write a warm-up with a barbershop feel to it – close harmony with a lower part leading the melody. The result is this, an a cappella warm-up song that I hope is quick to learn and satisfying to sing.

I also think it might come in handy to have in your choir’s repertoire, if you ever want a fun, musical way to say thanks to someone at an event or performance – a sort of modern-day ‘for he’s a jolly good fellow’.

VOCAL JAMS

Vocal jams are little musical snippets that, when layered together, create instant harmony.

Singing 'bout the Warm-up

I often find myself writing things that are a bit ‘meta’, and this is a good example – a warm-up where we sing about singing about a warm-up!

Use as many or as few of the parts as you like. Short of low voices? Ditch the bass. Whatever works for your group. You can sing it with or without the recorded backing track, but if you have the facility to play the track, I think it gives a richer experience.

Star of Silver

A nice, gentle vocal jam that works as a warm-up or cool down. Also great for Christmas.

Vocal jams are little musical snippets that, when layered together, create instant harmony. This one is in 12/8 time and it’s a great way to help our choirs to feel the pulse and not rush through rests. It’s in A minor, but you can put it in whatever key works for your choir. Try swapping the parts around so everyone has a go at each one.

CHRISTMAS WARM-UPS

We'll Welcome Christmas In

Is it a song? Is it a game? It’s both!

This bit of silliness was written as part song, part memory game. With each verse, you add a new festive activity and then run down the list you’ve built up so far.

Bursting with Bells

This simple, pretty vocal jam is very quick to learn and sounds wonderful. Sing it whatever key works for your choir. This is a great one to mix your singers for by creating sections other than vocal parts (eg birthdays or by numbering), and even to walk around while singing.

Cheesy Christmas Movies

A quick Christmas round to get your choir in the festive mood! Can they spot the movie references?

COOL-DOWN

It's a great idea to cool down your choir at the end of a rehearsal. It brings the voice back to speaking level and marks the end of the session.

Time to Go Home

A gentle cool-down exercises that brings our voices back to speaking level after singing. To the words 'home, it's time to go home'.

CWU hero image.png

KEEP IN TOUCH

We'd love to let you know when new warm-ups are published. Pop in your details below and we'll stay in touch.

bottom of page